DYNAMIC LOWER LIMB REHABILITATION ROBOTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF REHABILITATING HUMAN GAIT

摘要

A robotic rehabilitation apparatus and method provide subjects with lower limb gait impairment, gait therapy before subjects are able to walk independently, or are able to control their legs or stand unaided. The apparatus is constructed and arranged to take advantage of natural gravitational force and musculo-skeletal dynamics of therapy subjects, and to replicate gait in subjects without manual or mechanical intervention to lift subjects' legs and feet. The apparatus and method provide the appropriate dynamic and sensory inputs to muscle groups occurring during normal gait that are critical to gait rehabilitation.